Evidence preservation items

Abstract

The kit described herein may include a first measurement element capable of measuring in at least the x and y planes without substantially moving the element. The kit may further include a second measurement element capable of measuring in at least the x and y planes without substantially moving the second element. In one embodiment, the measuring element is substantially rectangular, has an internal opening and it includes at least a first axis along the x-axis and a second axis along the y-axis. In another embodiment, the measuring element comprises an “L” shape having a first axis along the x-axis and a second axis along the y-axis, wherein each axis has a length of more than 150 cm.

1. An evidence kit comprising:
 a. A monolithic first measurement element capable of measuring in at least the x and y planes without substantially moving the element, the first element having a substantially rectangular shape and includes an internal opening for measuring evidence; and 
 b. A second measurement element capable of measuring in at least the x and y planes without substantially moving the second element. 
 
     
     
       2. The kit of  claim 1  wherein a shape of the second element comprises substantially “L” shaped. 
     
     
       3. The kit of  claim 1  further comprising a third measurement element capable of measuring in at least the x and y planes without substantially moving the element, a shape of the third element comprises substantially rectangular and the third element includes an internal opening, the opening of the third element comprises at least about 50% more area than the internal opening of the first element. 
     
     
       4. The kit of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the measuring elements further includes a centering point at each end of each scale separate from the scales. 
     
     
       5. The kit of  claim 4  wherein each measuring element includes at least one midpoint indicator between one or more of the centering points between the two end points of a scale. 
     
     
       6. The kit of  claim 5  wherein the midpoint indicator along the x axis differs than the midpoint indicator along the y axis. 
     
     
       7. The kit of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first measurement element and the second measurement element include at least one surface having a first set of graduated marks on an interior of the surface and a second set of graduated marks on an exterior of the surface. 
     
     
       8. A method of collecting evidence of a crime comprising measuring evidence of a crime using one or more of the measuring elements of  claim 1  and preserving the evidence relative to at least one of the measuring elements. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  wherein the preserving photographing the evidence along with the measuring element one or more times. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8  further comprises centering the evidence relative to at least one of the x-axis or the y-axis of the measuring element. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  labeling the measuring element with identification information relative to the crime. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  further comprising collecting at least one of DNA evidence, physical evidence, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       13. A measuring element comprising a first surface, the first surface having at least a first axis along the x-axis and a second axis along the y-axis on the first surface, a second surface, the second surface having at least a first axis along the x-axis and a second axis along the y-axis on the second surface, a substantially rectangular shape, and an internal opening, wherein in the element being a unitary piece. 
     
     
       14. The measuring element of  claim 13  further comprising a centering reference point at each end point of at least one x-axis and a centering reference at each end point of at least one y-axis. 
     
     
       15. The measuring element of  claim 13  further comprising a midpoint indicator along at least one x axis and a midpoint indicator along at least one y axis.